The next best thing to being there Big-screen TVs, beer, eats: a winning Super Bowl lineup

Now that the dust has settled over a rough-and-tumble post-season and millions of football fans are gearing up for Sunday's game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Buffalo Bills, the big question is, where's the best place to check out the action?

For those yearning to watch Super Bowl XXVII on more than the neighbor's 21-inch television screen, there are plenty of parties in the works where big screens and big specials will be set up in time for the 6:18 p.m. kickoff.

One of the colossal football fests will be at Martin's West in Baltimore County (Security Blvd., near I-695, [410] 944-9433). With four 10-by-8-foot projector screens on hand, this bash is billed as the next best thing to sitting on the 50-yard line, or at least the nose-bleed section. The all-you-can-eat ballpark menu goes for $10 and includes beer, wine and soda, and a few lucky party-goers could walk away with a Cowboys' or Bills' helmet from a raffle.

Another giant football fete will be at the Inner Harbor Marriott (Pratt and Eutaw streets, [410] 962-0202). The Greater Baltimore Sports Medicine Party will feature two 7 1/2 -by-10-foot screens and six television monitors. The cost is $5 at the door and there will be $1 drafts and stadium-style food. Disc jockeys from WGRX will be on hand to rock the night away.

Balls (200 W. Pratt St., [410] 659-5844) is going for quantity with 24 television monitors placed for maximum video exposure on three floors. Upward of 400 people have turned out for previous Super Bowl Sundays, and this year's crowd can look forward to a variety of food and drink specials.

For die-hard fans who eat, sleep and breathe football, the Orioles Bar (Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel, [410] 962-8300) is this year's official Baltimore Super Bowl location, as licensed by the NFL. A $20 cover charge pays for a "Super Buffet" and a chance to scope out the plays on three 6-by-6-foot screens and nine television monitors.

One of the perks of being the "official" Super Bowl party is the football memorabilia the Orioles Bar gets to give away as door prizes, including helmets from both teams, an official Wilson Super Bowl football, and a grand prize of two sky box parties at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Festivities kick off at 3 p.m. Tom Davis from WQSR will emcee.

Although Redskins fans may be tempted to drown their sorrows at home this year, Scott Wakeley, manager of Champions -- the American Sports Bar (BWI Airport Marriott, [410] 859-5555) says he's still expecting 300 people Sunday.

"Dallas seems to be a team that has a large fan club. Every game that Dallas played this year, I had a full room," he says. "Then again, maybe it's just anti-Redskins fans."

Fans of all affiliations can kick back at this well-traveled sports bar with $1 drafts while watching the game on one of 11 televisions or a 51-inch projection screen.

Emerald Taverns (8300 Harford Road [410] 661-2299) is boasting nine televisions and one 48-inch projection screen. This Parkville watering hole hasn't missed showing a single NFC game all year. For Sunday's game, the tavern is providing a free beef and oyster buffet with $1 drafts.

Another Parkville party will take place at the the Barn and Crabhouse (9527 Harford Road, [410] 882-6182) where there will be at least four large-screen televisions and a free hot and cold buffet.

Rumble Fish (7954 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd., [410] 768-4477) in Glen Burnie is also going for the big picture with two 4-by-6-foot screens and 20 television sets to go along with its draft special and $2.99 buffet.

In Fells Point, Bohager's Bar and Grill (515 S. Eden St., [410]

563-7220) will be sporting a free buffet and $1.50 drafts, and two 4-by-5-foot screens. Free parking should ensure that no fans will go hungry cruising Fleet Street looking for a place to park.

In Columbia, the Last Chance Saloon (Oakland Mills Village Center, [410] 730-5656) is offering food and beer specials throughout the night, five television sets and a 55-inch projection screen. Also in Columbia, Sneakers Saloon and Restaurant (Long Reach Village Center, [410] 730-2208) is gearing up for the action with six televisions and a free oyster bar.

For those with big appetites and an insatiable thirst, Padonia Station Raw Bar and Grille in Timonium (Padonia Village Shopping Center, [410] 252-8181) is offering a hot and cold buffet and an open bar for $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Patrons will only have to open their wallets once while heading back and forth from the bar and watching the game on six televisions and a 50-inch projection screen.

Meanwhile, A.L. Gators (8501 Fort Smallwood Road, [410] 255-5533) plans to bring the house down with party host 98 ROCK' DJ Cruiser. A 10-by-10-foot television screen, nine televisions and 98-cent, 20-ounce drafts will be featured; women pay $2 to drink free for the rest of the night.

For all those sports-crazed Towson fans, the Legends of Sports Lounge (Quality Inn Towson, [410] 825-9190) is giving away Buffalo wings for Bills fans and Texas Chili for those of the Dallas persuasion, to go along with $1 drafts. Six televisions will cover all the angles.